Russian air defences intercept 49 Ukrainian drones across seven regions Oil Refinery Hit in Volgograd

In the early hours of January 31, Russian air defence forces intercepted and destroyed 49 Ukrainian drones over seven regions of the country.

The Defence Ministry announced on Telegram that 25 drones were shot down over the Rostov region, eight over Volgograd, six over Kursk, four over Yaroslavl, and two each over the Krasnodar Krai, Belgorod, and Voronezh regions, Caliber.Az reports

Debris from a drone caused a fire at an oil refinery in the Volgograd region. The blaze was swiftly extinguished, regional governor Andrey Bocharov stated. One refinery worker was injured and has been hospitalized, he added.

To recap, a Russian drone struck a residential building in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, on the night of January 30, killing nine people and injuring 13, according to the Interior Ministry. Search and rescue operations concluded later that evening.

The attack was part of a broader Russian offensive, with 81 drones launched at Ukraine. Ukraine's air defences downed 37, while 39 others disappeared from radar before reaching their targets.

A Shahed-type drone hit the multi-storey building in Sumy just after midnight. Among the victims were two couples: a 74-year-old man and his 69-year-old wife, and a 65-year-old man and his 64-year-old wife. Some of the injured are in serious condition, including an eight-year-old child and an 18-year-old man.

By Aghakazim Guliyev